Indian student dies in Germany after jumping from apartment to escape fire
Berlin: A 25-year-old Indian student from Telangana lost his life in a fire accident in Germany on New Year’s Day while trying to escape from his apartment, leaving his family devastated just days before he was to return home for Sankranti.
According to a report published by NDTV, the deceased, Hruthik Reddy, hailed from Malkapur village in Jangaon district. A fire broke out late Wednesday night at the apartment where he was staying in Germany. As the flames and thick smoke spread rapidly, Hruthik reportedly attempted to escape by jumping from the upper floor of the building.
ALSO READ: Congress and NCP (SP) to contest separately in Nagpur civic polls
Hruthik Reddy had reportedly left for Magdeburg in Germany in June 2023 to pursue an MS degree at the University of Europe. He graduated from Vaagdevi College of Engineering in 2022. His family said he had postponed taking a break during Dasara, planning instead to come home in the second week of January for Sankranti festival.
News of his death has cast a pall of gloom over his native village, where family members had been eagerly preparing for his homecoming. Instead, they are now awaiting the return of his mortal remains.
Local authorities in Germany are investigating the cause of the fire. Meanwhile, Hruthik's family and friends back in Telangana have reached out to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian Embassy in Germany to expedite the process of bringing his mortal remains back to his home village for the final rites.
The incident comes amid a series of tragic deaths involving Telugu students abroad. Last month, a 24-year-old woman from Jangaon district, Sahaja Reddy Udumala, died in a house fire in Albany, New York. She had moved to the US in 2021 for higher studies. She was living in Albany, New York. According to preliminary information, the fire had originated in a neighbouring building and spread rapidly to Sahaja's house. She was reportedly asleep when the fire broke out and was unable to escape.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
===================
The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
